Sixth version of scada reduces operating costs

SCADA/HMI

March 2005 SCADA/HMI

A leading independent provider of industrial automation solutions, Citect is now offering its CitectSCADA V6. New features include a powerful Process Analyst, zero-maintenance Web client, support for true colour, 500 additional symbols, time-stamped data and custom alarm filters - Citect reports that V6 is being heralded by some beta customers as the most user-friendly scada package on the market.

"In V6, Citect has concentrated on producing the most easy-to-use HMI/scada software available," said Stephen Flannigan, product manager, Citect. "It is easier to configure and operate with intuitive graphics and introduces the 'Process Analyst' - an innovative visualisation tool that integrates historical alarm and trend data. The time saved in configuring projects and in analysing information enables manufacturers to improve efficiencies and productivity, and to lower operating costs."

"The Process Analyst available in this version is a vast improvement from existing scada systems and enables processes to be optimised by making it easier for operators to analyse disturbances", said CitectSCADA beta customer, Paul Donald who is telemetry officer at Central Highlands Water. "V6 eliminates the need for engineers to build custom analysis screens. For example, if an unexpected incident occurs, an operator can create an on-the-fly 'Process Analyst' view which compares pump run times, pump fault alarms, flow rates and valve settings instead of having to look at four different sources of information."

Process Analyst

Setting CitectSCADA apart from other scada products is the Process Analyst, which its creators believe is a next generation in historical visualisation tools. It allows operators to analyse the cause of process disturbances by bringing together trend and alarm data, which is traditionally stored separately. Rather than having to compare a separate historical analog trend display with an alarm summary or log printout, users can simply view them all on a single integrated display. The Process Analyst can help operators recognise patterns that lead to particular process disturbances, so that in future they can be avoided.

Any analog or digital pen can be combined with any alarms on Process Analyst display. Complete flexibility is provided to the operator on how the pens can be displayed, for example they can be overlaid or stacked. In addition, pens can be placed in different panes to reduce clutter and make the display easier to read.

True colour and symbols

Custom graphics now can be built using true colour, flashing colours as well as flashing symbols. In addition, over 500 new graphics symbols have been added, making it easier and faster for engineers to create intuitive pages.

Web Client

A new Web Client will also be available with CitectSCADA V6. This is a zero-maintenance, fully functional client that is viewed using Internet Explorer.

Time-stamped data

V6 incorporates improved support for time-stamped alarms and trends to millisecond accuracy. Users can now push RTU or Lab data into a new trend type through an application.

Version 6 - update sessions

Demonstrations can be seen and more information will be available at the update presentations at the Citect office in Randburg. Demonstration dates for CitectSCADA V6 are 31 March, 6 April and 20 April 2005.

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SCADA/HMI

Sixth version of scada reduces operating costs

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